Levin Water Treatment Plant upgrade complete
Published on July 18, 2017
The upgrade of Levin’s water treatment plant is complete and achieves a quality and future-proofed supply.
Officially opened this morning by Associate Minister of Health Hon Peter Dunne and Horowhenua District Mayor Michael Feyen, the upgrade involved:
- Installing a new six million-litre reservoir, doubling the plant’s capacity and providing the town with at least 24 hours of water storage - up from 19 hours typically and only 13 hours during peak demand in summer.
- Installing a new water clarifier late last year to remove silt from the Ohau River source water, allowing the water to be effectively treated even when the river is muddy and avoiding the need for boil water notices.
- Constructing a new chemical dosing system.
- Installing an ultra violet water treatment system.
- Constructing a new chlorine shed.
- Additional electrical and telemetry works.
Horowhenua District Council’s Projects Manager Gerry O’Neill says that Council is now able to supply water to the community that fully complies with the current New Zealand Drinking Water Standards.
“Previously the Levin Water Treatment Plant was not compliant for the drinking water contaminant protozoa, but after the upgrade we are now compliant. This is another significant improvement in water quality for the Levin community,” he said.
In total, the upgrade cost $6.4 million, of which $2.5 million was on the new reservoir. Mr O’Neill said it is important to ensure that Council spends ratepayers’ money wisely and that the community gets the best outcome for the money.
"This project was completed within budget, on time and demonstrates that Horowhenua District can have first-class infrastructure at a cost our community can afford, by ensuring we are focused on the right outcomes," he said.
“This upgrade is a credit to everyone involved, not only to Council’s Infrastructure Services team, but every contractor that has been involved in this project. The contractors on this site have demonstrated professionalism and diligence to the highest standards.”
As part of future-proofing the Levin water supply, Council has also secured its desired volume of water it can draw from the Ohau River.
Council has gained resource consent to abstract up to 15,000 cubic metres per day from the Ohau River, except when the flow is at a certain lower level when no more than 13,000 cubic metres can be abstracted. The resource consent is for the period until to July 2042.
Mr O’Neill said a secure and reliable water supply is essential to the wellbeing, health and safety of people and communities in Levin, both now and into the future, which is particularly important considering the population, housing and commercial growth already underway in the District.
Horowhenua District Council operates five drinking water supply schemes. Levin’s, the largest and which currently supplies approximately 20,000 people, was the last to be upgraded, following Tokomaru, Shannon, Foxton and Foxton Beach.
